Ukraine comedian Zelensky wins presidency in landslide

A comedian with no political experience won a landslide victory in Ukraine's presidential election, drawing congratulations from global leaders while dealing a stunning rebuke to his country's political establishment.

Volodymyr Zelensky, whose only previous political role was playing the president in a TV show, trounced incumbent Petro Poroshenko by taking 73.2 percent of the vote, according to nearly complete official results released early Monday.

Poroshenko garnered just 24.4 percent, losing to the 41-year-old comedian and actor across the country, with 85 percent of ballots counted after Sunday's election.

It was an extraordinary outcome to a campaign that started as a joke but struck a chord with voters frustrated by social injustice, corruption and a war with Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that has claimed some 13,000 lives.

The star of the TV series "Servant of the People" will now take the helm of a country of 45 million people beset by challenges and having run on the vaguest of political platforms.

"I will never let you down," Zelensky told jubilant supporters at his campaign headquarters where he was showered with glittering confetti.

Poroshenko, 53, said the results were clear and enough reason to "call my opponent and congratulate him".

"I will leave office but I want to firmly stress -- I will not quit politics," Poroshenko said in a speech at his campaign headquarters, where supporters clapped, cried and chanted "thank you" to the outgoing leader.

He also appealed to the international community to help safeguard Ukraine's pro-Western course.

"We realise that the Kremlin might be enjoying the election result," he said.

Observers say Ukraine's new leader may seek to use his outsider status to try to improve ties with Moscow.

Zelensky said he wanted to "reboot" Western-brokered peace talks that have so far failed to end the conflict.

Moscow said the vote result showed Ukrainians wanted "change".

- 'Tired of lies' -

From Ukrainian-speaking regions in the west of the country to Russian-speaking territories in the war-torn east, many voters said they feared uncertainty but yearned for change.

"We're tired of all the lies," said Marta Semenyuk, 26, who cast her ballot for Zelensky in Kiev.

"I think it just cannot get any worse and I hope he'll live up to his promises," said Larisa, an 18-year-old student from the government-held eastern port city of Mariupol.